COMING BACK FROM EXPATRIATION: ARTICLE FROM EXPAT ACCOMPANYING PARTNER
The following feedback and
tips come from an Expat Accompanying Partner who would like to share their
experience with readers of the blog. The feedback is an overview of their 3-year
period as an Expat Partner, highlighting 3 important stages and subsequent learning
experiences which they perceive as beneficial for future career and professional comeback!
“When coming back from expatriation, we have a better vision
of what happened during these years and it’s easier to draw conclusions.
Here are a few personal
learnings from three years as an Expat Accompanying Partner.
The 1st few
weeks of your expatriation are generally dedicated to nestling into your new
home, learning about the city’s transportation system to be able to move
around, strolling in the supermarket to be able to find the products that fit
your culinary habits (this might even take a few months), and if you have kids
– looking for school and/or after-school activities to make their transition to
a new ‘home’ as smooth as possible. Basic things that took little or no effort
before, now require more time and quite often a lot of frustration.
If this is your case - congratulations!
You step out of your comfort zone
and boost your brain’s activity to the maximum. After feeling awkward and
uncomfortable, we can make a big step towards personal change and growth. This
increases our adaptability.
Adaptability is a skill much sought after by recruiters and company’s HR
(according to University of Kent, UK). In the 21st century, where
things change very fast, companies need people who can adapt to these changes.
One of the ways to learn how to do it (if you are not born with this skill), is
to live in another country.
2nd important
stage – finding new friends! This is a very “fun” part of expatriation that an Accompanying
Partner can enjoy. It starts with taking a coffee in the morning (with a
“fellow mom” after putting kids to school) and in participating in numerous
clubs’ activities you will join. Can this really be useful for the future? Of
course! No doubt the numerous contacts you make, will lead to the growth of
your network. Networking has become a very important part of our lives which is not just limited to when we need advice
on what not to miss out on, in the new host country. It might also become a key
factor in finding a future job or a business partner. So open yourself
towards others and always remember that you are not only a parent or a friend but
also a professional!
3rd essential
part – learning or improving a foreign
language. There is a big chance that a host country’s language will not be
your native language. To read a food packaging or to find your direction in the
city, you will have to ask people for information. The circumstances will no doubt push you to
do it, in a language that is different from your native language. In the world of globalization, one of the
requirements of companies linked to their business needs, is to speak at least
one foreign language. If you master one or more foreign languages, you increase
your chances to get the job of your
dreams. Even if your company is not internationally oriented, there is
always a seminar or a forum where you might encounter the need to use your
English/French/Chinese etc.…Therefore, don’t hesitate to sign up for a foreign
language class in your community!
As a conclusion, I would like to stress that the years of expatriation go by in a
blink of an eye! As an Accompanying Partner, being on a prolonged ‘vacation’ is
a gift - do take advantage of every day! However, do make this expatriation
period beneficial for your career and future professional come-back!”
Many thanks to this reader
for sharing their feedback and advice!
For more information on Adaptability, Languages and other related themes, please consult articles on the blog featured posts or in the archives.
If you are an Expat or Ex
Expat Accompanying Partner who would also like to share your experience and
advice with others, to valorize the learning skills acquired abroad, please get
in touch via the contact sheet on the blog.